Boxers of Wales
7 primary works
Book 1
Book 2
A stroll around Merthyr town centre demonstrates the importance of the fight game in the borough's history. Where else on the planet can you find no fewer than three statues of boxers? A must-buy for all fight fans this book tells the stories of some 50 fighters who have made their mark to varying degrees over the past century and a half. Some are known world-wide, such as the occupants of those plinths - Howard Winstone, Johnny Owen and Eddie Thomas - others were local legends, such as the king of the cobbles, Redmond Coleman, and the man whose skin colour robbed him of the chance of greatness, Cuthbert Taylor. The neighbouring Taff Valley towns of Aberdare and Pontypridd also contribute their heroes including little Dai Dower, who won British, Empire and European titles in less than five months, while Pontypridd folk are justly proud of their world champion, Freddie Welsh, and the three Moody brothers, who all won belts. With several dozen illustrations, some never before published, this is recommended reading for all fight fans, whether or not they have the good fortune to hail from the Taff Valley.
Book 3
The Rhondda Valleys have always produced hard men. The descendants of those who flocked there in the nineteenth century to work in the expanding coalfield combined to form a special kind of society, in which brawn and brain were equally respected. While the famous miners' institutes nurtured the intellect, each village also had its gymnasium and these spawned some of the fight game's most famous practitioners. Jimmy Wilde was arguably the greatest British boxer of all time, while a whole nation stayed up to listen to the radio commentary of Tommy Farr's brave challenge to the legendary Joe Louis. This book tells their stories, of course, but also those of more than 40 others, including Wales's forgotten world champion, Percy Jones, and two who wore the Lonsdale Belt, Tom Thomas and Llew Edwards. With dozens of illustrations, many seen here for the first time, this book is essential reading for anyone interested in the square ring.
Book 4
The first world title fight in Wales featured Swansea lightweight boxer, Ronnie James, and the city produced another three challengers at the highest level before Enzo Maccarinelli finally reached the pinnacle. Colin Jones, Brian Curvis and Floyd Havard were far from the only top-class exponents of the boxer's craft to emerge from Wales's second city. And the rival conurbation across the Loughor Bridge has contributed its share of stars to the fistic firmament. As well as two-weight British champion Robert Dickie and the legendary Gipsy Daniels, who once knocked out the great Max Schmeling inside a round, Llanelli gave birth to the man who codified the laws by which the sport is regulated, famous under the name of his patron, the Marquess of Queensberry. Some 50 boxers are profiled in these generously illustrated pages. Whether or not you hail from the area, if you are a fight fan, this book will make a worthy addition to your shelves.
Book 5
There has always been a great boxing tradition in Newport and the valleys of Monmouthshire, but recently the area has excelled itself. Over the last two decades, no fewer than four world champions have been groomed in local gyms. Robbie Regan, Gavin Rees, Nathan Cleverly and the incomparable Joe Calzaghe may be the stand-out achievers featured in this book, but they are far from the only stars remembered here. Johnny Basham and the `Maesglas Marciano', Dick Richardson, lead the way for the city on the Usk, while there are many others who have worn the Lonsdale Belt or claimed Commonwealth Games medals. And the changing face of boxing is epitomised by Ebbw Vale girl Ashley Brace, the first woman to top a professional bill in Wales - and the first to win an international title. Some 70 boxers are pictured and profiled. Any fight fan, whether a `Gwentie' or not, will enjoy this book.
Book 6
The historic county of Glamorgan has a proud and successful boxing heritage, as can be seen by the 50-plus boxers featured in this, the sixth volume of Gareth Jones' renowned Boxers of Wales series. Having already profiled the boxers of Cardiff, Merthyr and Pontypridd, as well as the Cynon and Rhondda valleys, in previous volumes, Gareth Jones now completes his impressive journey around the old county by focusing his attention on: Glamorgan's coastal towns, which have produced dozens of top fighters, not least the Selby brothers from Barry and one of the first Welshmen to wear a Lonsdale Belt, Port Talbot's Bill Beynon. The old mining valleys, from the Neath to the Ogmore, which have nurtured many ring warriors over the years, including the fistic hotbeds of Maesteg and nearby Caerau: home to a string of champions and contenders. Packed with more than 100 photos and illustrations, as well as decades of unrivalled boxing knowledge, The Boxers of South, West & Mid Glamorgan is essential reading for all followers of the noble art.
Book 7
Casual observers of the Welsh boxing scene might well think that the best practitioners of the sport have all hailed from the valleys and coastal cities of the south. But the rural counties have contributed their share to the nation's fistic history.
In the high-profile heavyweight division alone, the area covered by this book has produced two British champions and another who contested the title. Others have worn and challenged for Lonsdale Belts at lower weights.
The first British boxer ever to win a medal at the world amateur championships can be found between these covers, along with the incredible youngster who was ranked in the world's top 10 by the American Ring magazine when he was just 16 years old.
This volume, packed with photographs - many published for the first time - profiles more than 50 boxers from the bare-knuckle era to stars of the present and future. It is a must-read for any fight fan, whether from Wales or further afield.
In the high-profile heavyweight division alone, the area covered by this book has produced two British champions and another who contested the title. Others have worn and challenged for Lonsdale Belts at lower weights.
The first British boxer ever to win a medal at the world amateur championships can be found between these covers, along with the incredible youngster who was ranked in the world's top 10 by the American Ring magazine when he was just 16 years old.
This volume, packed with photographs - many published for the first time - profiles more than 50 boxers from the bare-knuckle era to stars of the present and future. It is a must-read for any fight fan, whether from Wales or further afield.